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How long before the ICC gets involved?

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  • 26-12-2005 9:07pm
    #1
    Nox
    Registered Users Posts: 153 ✭✭


    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4558190.stm

    An operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, involving helicopter gunships and 1,900 UN and Congolese troops, has taken a key town from a rebel militia.

    The town of Nioka has been captured, UN military spokesman Major Hans-Jakob Reichen, told the BBC.

    The town, 80km (50 miles) north of Bunia, had been a rebel stronghold.

    The joint operation, which began on Thursday, was against a militia led by Peter Karim. He has now fled northwards, the UN says.

    Two of his bodyguards have been captured and the UN and Congolese troops hope to take him as well.

    The militia he leads has been accused of atrocities against civilians in the region, which borders Uganda and Sudan.

    Lawless region

    This is the most lawless region of DR Congo, which is recovering from years of civil war in which more than three million people have died.

    The eastern region of Ituri has been out of the control of the capital, Kinshasa, hundreds of kilometres to the west.

    Minerals and rich timber resources have led to vicious territorial disputes, which Congo's neighbours have exploited for their own ends.

    The UN has 16,000 peacekeepers deployed in the country - its largest military operation in the world.

    The aim is to hold elections later next year, but this will be an uphill task while gunmen and bandits rule so much of this vast country.
    ________________
    Remember, all it takes is for someone to accuse these soldiers of doing something wrong and the ICC takes over. And what happens when one of the rebels screams torture and shows scars?

    God I love it.

    Nox


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    #2
    A Dub in Glasgo
    Registered Users Posts: 17,201 ✭✭✭✭A Dub in Glasgo


    That is a verbatim account of the BBC report, what is your point?


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    #3
    Nox
    Registered Users Posts: 153 ✭✭Nox


    A Dub in Glasgo wrote:
    That is a verbatim account of the BBC report, what is your point?

    Since you apparently didn't read the entire post ... I'll repeat the last paragraph:
    Nox wrote:
    Remember, all it takes is for someone to accuse these soldiers of doing something wrong and the ICC takes over. And what happens when one of the rebels screams torture and shows scars?

    God I love it.

    Nox

    That my friend is my point.

    Nox


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    #4
    A Dub in Glasgo
    Registered Users Posts: 17,201 ✭✭✭✭A Dub in Glasgo


    Outstanding... there was me thinking that was part of your signature!!!

    You love it :confused:


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    #5
    Doctor Benway
    Registered Users Posts: 144 ✭✭Doctor Benway


    Nox wrote:
    Remember, all it takes is for someone to accuse these soldiers of doing something wrong and the ICC takes over. And what happens when one of the rebels screams torture and shows scars?

    I think you should do a little more research into the International Criminal Court. The process by which investigations/prosecutions under the auspices of the ICC is quite a bit more complicated and lengthy than you seem to believe.

    It's also unlikely that the ICC would even have jurisdiction in the circumstances you outline above.


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    #6
    Nox
    Registered Users Posts: 153 ✭✭Nox


    Doctor Benway wrote:
    I think you should do a little more research into the International Criminal Court. The process by which investigations/prosecutions under the auspices of the ICC is quite a bit more complicated and lengthy than you seem to believe.
    You are probably correct about this. However, when I look at how you Euro's have tried to bring charges against Dick Cheney and Tommy Franks, I think my limited knowledge of the ICC is sufficient to justify my attitude. It would be nice if I could believe that the ICC would indeed be objective and unbiased ... I do not believe it.
    Doctor Benway wrote:
    It's also unlikely that the ICC would even have jurisdiction in the circumstances you outline above.

    I agree with this statement ... ONLY because the UN troops are NOT Americans. Put US soldiers there (along with a US signing up for the ICC) and you have an instant recipe for disaster ... for the US troops.

    Nox


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    #7
    Doctor Benway
    Registered Users Posts: 144 ✭✭Doctor Benway


    Nox wrote:
    You are probably correct about this. However, when I look at how you Euro's have tried to bring charges against Dick Cheney and Tommy Franks, I think my limited knowledge of the ICC is sufficient to justify my attitude. It would be nice if I could believe that the ICC would indeed be objective and unbiased ... I do not believe it.

    (...)

    I agree with this statement ... ONLY because the UN troops are NOT Americans. Put US soldiers there (along with a US signing up for the ICC) and you have an instant recipe for disaster ... for the US troops.

    Nox

    I really do think you should look into how the ICC actually works before making statements like the ones above, which are inaccurate. If the US signed up for the ICC and US soldiers were involved in a systematic programme of war crimes or crimes against humanity, then the ICC might be involved but only if the US itself didn't initiate a prosecution in the first place. However, in the case you cited above (where an individual made accusations of torture against individual soldiers) then the ICC simply doesn't have jurisdiction over the prosecution. Political prejudices don't come into it.

    Where are you getting your information on the ICC from?


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